Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Cherished Cheese Company Confirms Closing After 94 Years

Make time for Crushing It: Botanical Impressions on Fabric on the Sonoma Patch calendar

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Wednesday August 26th Patch AM
Wednesday August 26th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Sonoma! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Sonoma's historic Vella Cheese prepares to close after nearly a century
  • Will Sonoma's General's Daughter be moved for 46 new homes?
  • How Sonoma County's cannabis crunch is reshaping jobs and local shops

Also on today's calendar: Crushing It: Botanical Impressions on Fabric and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the wall say to the other wall. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Sunshine and a few clouds, with a high of 98 and low of 57 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Hot with sunshine, temps: high: 96, low: 60.
  • Friday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 89 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Cherished Cheese Company Confirms Closing After 94 Years (patch.com) — Sonoma residents are losing a beloved landmark as Vella Cheese Company, founded in 1931 just off Sonoma Plaza, winds down operations after nearly 95 years. Fourth-generation cheesemaker Gabe Vella says unprofitable Dry Jack production and post-COVID financial pressures forced the family to cease making cheese, though the Sonoma store will stay open for a few months to sell remaining inventory.
   

2. Plan To Move Landmark, Demolish Celebrated Culinary Site Create Opposing Forces In Sonoma (patch.com) — A major housing proposal could reshape a historic corner of Sonoma, with Tidewater Capital seeking to move the 1878 General's Daughter building, demolish the former Ramekins site, and build 46 homes near West Spain Street. Neighbors, preservation groups, and planning commissioners are already debating fire safety, traffic, historic character, and whether the landmark should stay put as the developer prepares a formal application.
   

3. California cannabis industry woes are hitting home in the North Bay (petalumanews.com) — Sonoma County's legal cannabis businesses, especially in Santa Rosa, are struggling with high local costs, competition from the illicit market, and complex banking rules even after recent tax breaks. Local operators describe layoffs, rising wages and utility bills, and steep permitting fees, while a new Santa Rosa dispensary owner details how hard it is for small newcomers to break in and stay local.
   

4. employment-sonoma-solano-marin-napa-mendocino-lake-california (fresnobee.com) — Sonoma County's job market is being propped up by gains in healthcare and leisure and hospitality, even as its overall labor force shrinks and unemployment edges up slightly. For Sonoma workers and employers, economists warn that flat or slipping construction and manufacturing, plus an aging or migrating workforce, could slow the broader local economy despite headline job growth.
   

📸 Around Sonoma

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Sonoma

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Sonoma PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • 'FLOWER WARS' CHALLENGE!
    Ready, Set, GO! The only rule is the flowers you post should be the flowers you grew. A sampling of the flowers in my yard this year. White orchid,… (Nextdoor El Verano)
  • Looking for a handyman to do some chores around my house.
    Moving shelf, putting up down spouts etc. Any recommendations? (Nextdoor Rancho Madrone)
  • Lucky Supermarket posted a job opening for Multi-Purpose Clerk - Cashier - 19181 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476 in Sonoma. Apply here.
  • Whole Foods posted a job opening for Meat Team Member (Service Counter) - Full Time in Sonoma. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sonoma here.

Ok Sonoma! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Meet me at the corner. (Thank you Earlene M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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